Paul of Samosata

Paul of Samosata (200-275 AD) was Bishop of Antioch from 260 to 268, succeeding Demetrius and preceding Domnus.

Biography
Paul was born in Samosata, Asia Minor in 200 to a family of humble origin, and he was elected Bishop of Antioch in 260 and became Procurator ducenarius. Paul believed that Jesus was born a normal man and was then adopted as God's son, and that, although Jesus was initially a mere man, through his adoption by God and his receipt of the Word of God, he became totally one with God; this was the reverse of the orthodox position that God became man as Jesus. Paul was later accused of corruption on a grand scale, as he had become very wealthy as a prelate, and he was removed by a synod of bishops in 268 AD. He died in 275, and the 7th century Paulicians of Armenia named themselves after his "adoptionist" theology.